Ever since he split sub-50 in a relay indoors at Reggie, his fans have dreamed of seeing Isaiah Penn in a championship 400m. On Saturday, they got their wish and Penn became only the second Newton North/Newton H.S. runner in history to run one lap in under 49 seconds, as he won the D1 title in a blistering 48.77. Penn became the first D1 400m champion from NN since Jed Carpenter in 2005, and the second fastest in school history behind Wes Harris.
In the one mile, Ezra Lichtman also staked a claim to history as he won the D1 title in 4:18.18, a personal best. Lichtman becomes NN's first outdoor D1 mile champion since Dave Polgar did it in 2006. Junior Justin Keefe ran a PR 4:24.40 for 7th and two more points.
The team competition was close, as expected, but Acton-Boxboro ran away with it on the strength of an unprecedented 1-2-3 24-point finish in the 800m. Seriously, has that ever happened that one team has swept a running event in D1? A-B also won the 400m hurdles (Chris Pullerits, 54.61), the 4x800 (8:01.17). and the 4x400 (edging out Newton North in 3:24.45).
North had more points from Penn in the triple jump (42-5, 5th place), and Swardiq Mayanja, who took 3rd in both the shot (53-00.25) and discus (141-04). Ryan Donovan also picked up a point with an 8th place finish in the discus (128-10).
May 29, 2011
Field Events Key as NN Girls Win D1 Championships
The Andover girls were the best team on the track yesterday at the State D1 Championships, but it wasn't enough. The Golden Warriors scored in seven of eleven running events and got wins in the 200, 400, and 4x400 relay, where in an epic battle they defeated Newton North and set a meet record with a time of 3:57.50.
But as good as Andover was on the track, Newton North was better in the field. The Tigers scored an incredible 58.5 points in the jumps and throws, including 24 points in the long jump, 18 in the discus, and 11 in the triple jump. Those points, plus 35 points in the running events and relays propelled North to the team title and denied Andover a second straight D1 crown.
Individually, the Tigers were led by Carla Forbes who defended her 2010 D1 titles in the long and triple jumps, and Ellen Goldberg and Tatiana Froelich, who went 1-2 in the discus. Kayla Wong placed 2nd in the long jump and 3rd in the 100 hurdles (14.78 in the finals, following a 14.76 in her preliminary heat). Evie Heffernan continued here amazing spring as she ran a five-second personal best in the mile (5:09.77) for third. Margo Gillis gutted out a 2:17.44 in the 800 for another third place, behind Andrea Keklak's unreal 2:08.78. Meghan Bellerose went under 60 for the 400 for the first time, placing 5th in 59.76. Kayla Prior was 5th in the long jump. Alli Hurwitz placed 7th in the 400 hurdles in 1:08.59. Emily Hutchinson tied for 8th in the high jump with a clearance of 5-0. And in perhaps her final H.S. meet, Amy Ren finished 7th in the long jump and 8th in the triple jump for 3 more points.
In addition to North's second place in the 4x400 (3:57.91), the Tigers also placed 6th in the 4x800 in 9:52.96. North's 4x100 team was disqualified for a zone violation, but by then the Tigers had the meet in hand.
2011 DI Championships - Full Results
But as good as Andover was on the track, Newton North was better in the field. The Tigers scored an incredible 58.5 points in the jumps and throws, including 24 points in the long jump, 18 in the discus, and 11 in the triple jump. Those points, plus 35 points in the running events and relays propelled North to the team title and denied Andover a second straight D1 crown.
Individually, the Tigers were led by Carla Forbes who defended her 2010 D1 titles in the long and triple jumps, and Ellen Goldberg and Tatiana Froelich, who went 1-2 in the discus. Kayla Wong placed 2nd in the long jump and 3rd in the 100 hurdles (14.78 in the finals, following a 14.76 in her preliminary heat). Evie Heffernan continued here amazing spring as she ran a five-second personal best in the mile (5:09.77) for third. Margo Gillis gutted out a 2:17.44 in the 800 for another third place, behind Andrea Keklak's unreal 2:08.78. Meghan Bellerose went under 60 for the 400 for the first time, placing 5th in 59.76. Kayla Prior was 5th in the long jump. Alli Hurwitz placed 7th in the 400 hurdles in 1:08.59. Emily Hutchinson tied for 8th in the high jump with a clearance of 5-0. And in perhaps her final H.S. meet, Amy Ren finished 7th in the long jump and 8th in the triple jump for 3 more points.
In addition to North's second place in the 4x400 (3:57.91), the Tigers also placed 6th in the 4x800 in 9:52.96. North's 4x100 team was disqualified for a zone violation, but by then the Tigers had the meet in hand.
2011 DI Championships - Full Results
May 20, 2011
BSC Conference Meet Results 5/19/11
Under heavy, overcast skies, Newton North's track and field teams competed at the 2011 BSC Conference Championships yesterday at Weymouth. I've always had mixed feelings about the conference meet, wondering whether it was one meet too many for the top athletes, but looking at the results, I'm becoming a believer in the value and excitement of the event. In particular, the Tigers had scintillating wins in the boys and girls miles, among other strong performances. The NN girls looked particularly dominant in the field events, winning all of the jumps and two of the three throws.
On the girls side first, North got wins from Evie Heffernan in the mile (5:14.33 personal best) and Margo Gillis in the 800 (2:20.41). Allie Hurwitz took 4th in the 400m hurdles, and the girls 4x100 team took 3rd.
Emily Hutchinson won the high jump at a modest 4-11 (slippery jumping surface?)... Carla Forbes won the long and triple jumps (17-5, 38-9.5). Megan Gentile took first in the shot put (36-9), and Tatiana Froehlich won the discus, spinning it out to 122-00 (with Ellen Godberg 3rd in 107-03). Amy Lu had a nice throw in the javelin, hitting 95-08 for 6th.
For the boys, Ezra Lichtman went head-to-head with Weymouth's Steve Sollowin in the mile and won the battle, running a personal best 4:21.46. That makes him the fastest NN miler since David Polgar (2006), and almost certainly puts him in the top ten all-time for the Tigers. Not to be overlooked, Justin Keefe also flew, running 4:27.51 for 3rd, with Dan Ranti at 4:35.76 in 7th. Geez, it used to be that 4:30 would win this race, now it gets you 5th.
Isaiah Penn continued to dominate the one-lap race, winning the 400 in 50.38. North also won the 4x400 relay in 3:31.14, and the 4x800 relay in 8:47.2. Who ran for the Tigers on these teams?
The work of Mike Bower continues to amaze. Newton North had four of the top five places yesterday, with all four -- all underclassmen -- at 46' or better. Swardiq Mayanja won with a toss of 50-03, but North also had a sophomore throw 48-7 (Carl Witham) and a freshman throw 46-6 (Jermel Wright). That's like having a sophomore and a freshman running 4:30 and 4:35 for the mile. Incredible! Mayanja also won the discus (140-6), with Ryan Donovan taking 2nd (139-7).
In the jumps, Tylor Hart placed 2nd in the high jump (6-3), and Penn placed 3rd in the triple (39-11).
2011 Bay State Conference Outdoor T&F Championships
On the girls side first, North got wins from Evie Heffernan in the mile (5:14.33 personal best) and Margo Gillis in the 800 (2:20.41). Allie Hurwitz took 4th in the 400m hurdles, and the girls 4x100 team took 3rd.
Emily Hutchinson won the high jump at a modest 4-11 (slippery jumping surface?)... Carla Forbes won the long and triple jumps (17-5, 38-9.5). Megan Gentile took first in the shot put (36-9), and Tatiana Froehlich won the discus, spinning it out to 122-00 (with Ellen Godberg 3rd in 107-03). Amy Lu had a nice throw in the javelin, hitting 95-08 for 6th.
For the boys, Ezra Lichtman went head-to-head with Weymouth's Steve Sollowin in the mile and won the battle, running a personal best 4:21.46. That makes him the fastest NN miler since David Polgar (2006), and almost certainly puts him in the top ten all-time for the Tigers. Not to be overlooked, Justin Keefe also flew, running 4:27.51 for 3rd, with Dan Ranti at 4:35.76 in 7th. Geez, it used to be that 4:30 would win this race, now it gets you 5th.
Isaiah Penn continued to dominate the one-lap race, winning the 400 in 50.38. North also won the 4x400 relay in 3:31.14, and the 4x800 relay in 8:47.2. Who ran for the Tigers on these teams?
The work of Mike Bower continues to amaze. Newton North had four of the top five places yesterday, with all four -- all underclassmen -- at 46' or better. Swardiq Mayanja won with a toss of 50-03, but North also had a sophomore throw 48-7 (Carl Witham) and a freshman throw 46-6 (Jermel Wright). That's like having a sophomore and a freshman running 4:30 and 4:35 for the mile. Incredible! Mayanja also won the discus (140-6), with Ryan Donovan taking 2nd (139-7).
In the jumps, Tylor Hart placed 2nd in the high jump (6-3), and Penn placed 3rd in the triple (39-11).
2011 Bay State Conference Outdoor T&F Championships
May 16, 2011
Results from the 2011 State Coaches Meet
When I was coaching at Newton North, I always loved the MSTCA Coaches meet because the depth and quality of the competition always seemed to result in a bounty of personal bests. It was always a goal to qualify for the State Coaches meet, and then run a really fast time there to qualify for the MIAA Div I meet.
On Saturday, Durfee hosted the 2011 MSTCA meet and there were plenty of fast times, and several championships for Newton North athletes.
NN senior Isaiah Penn ran the fastest 400m in the state this year, crossing the line in 49.01. He was quoted in the Globe to the effect that he still had more work to do and that he knew he could go faster. Mercy! Also in the 400, NN's Ben Clark ran 52.57.
In the 800, Ezra Lichtman added another impressive victory for North, running 1:57.92 (personal best?) to lead six runners under 2:00. North freshman Gabe Montague also competed in the 800, running 2:05.79.
In other events, Justin Keefe finished 5th in the 1 mile (4:31.19); Dan Ranti placed 4th in the 2 Mile (9:52.70); and Tylor Hart placed 4th in the high jump (6-2). In the shot put, North had three throwers over 47 feet, all underclassmen, led by Swardick Mayanja's second place (53-8). Mayanja also placed 2nd in the discus with a throw of 160-7.
Running out of the slowest heat, the quartet of Clark, Terrell Doyle, Abbott, and Keefe placed 4th overall in the 4x400 relay, running 3:32.01. Gotta love their chances with Penn and Lichtman.
Carla Forbes was named the meet's outstanding performer in the field events, as she won the triple jump with a leap of 40-1.25. Amy Ren was 10th in the same event with a leap of 33-5. Forbes also placed 3rd in the 200, running 26.17.
Forbes had company (and competition) for the above honor from her teammates. In the discus, Tatiana Froelich won with a throw of 119-5. Ellen Goldberg also had a great throw, 113-8, which was good enough for fourth. In the long jump, Kayla Wong won with a leap of 16-10.5. Wong also placed 3rd in the 100m hurdles, running 15.24 in the finals (15.16 in the trials).
In the shot put, Megan Gentile had a huge throw of 36-1.25 to place second. In the high jump, Emily Hutchinson cleared 5-3 to place third. Steph Brown was third in the pole vault (8-0).
In the 400, sophomore Meghan Bellerose (60.02) and Madison Nadeau (60.75) finished 7th and 10th, respectively. In the 1 Mile, freshman Evie Heffernan ran a personal best 5:14.04 to finish 5th, only two seconds behind the winner. Sister Maggie finished 8th in what I believe is also a personal best 5:19.84. In the 2 Mile, Devika Banerjee placed 8th in 12:20.79, with Liz Rudie at 12:44.22.
In the 400m hurdles, Amy Ren placed 10th in 1:09.32.
North's 4x100 team of Wynn, Forbes, Brown, and Wong placed 3rd in 50.72. Their 4x800 team finished 5th in 9:58.60.
2011 MSTCA Boys and Girls Results
On Saturday, Durfee hosted the 2011 MSTCA meet and there were plenty of fast times, and several championships for Newton North athletes.
NN senior Isaiah Penn ran the fastest 400m in the state this year, crossing the line in 49.01. He was quoted in the Globe to the effect that he still had more work to do and that he knew he could go faster. Mercy! Also in the 400, NN's Ben Clark ran 52.57.
In the 800, Ezra Lichtman added another impressive victory for North, running 1:57.92 (personal best?) to lead six runners under 2:00. North freshman Gabe Montague also competed in the 800, running 2:05.79.
In other events, Justin Keefe finished 5th in the 1 mile (4:31.19); Dan Ranti placed 4th in the 2 Mile (9:52.70); and Tylor Hart placed 4th in the high jump (6-2). In the shot put, North had three throwers over 47 feet, all underclassmen, led by Swardick Mayanja's second place (53-8). Mayanja also placed 2nd in the discus with a throw of 160-7.
Running out of the slowest heat, the quartet of Clark, Terrell Doyle, Abbott, and Keefe placed 4th overall in the 4x400 relay, running 3:32.01. Gotta love their chances with Penn and Lichtman.
Carla Forbes was named the meet's outstanding performer in the field events, as she won the triple jump with a leap of 40-1.25. Amy Ren was 10th in the same event with a leap of 33-5. Forbes also placed 3rd in the 200, running 26.17.
Forbes had company (and competition) for the above honor from her teammates. In the discus, Tatiana Froelich won with a throw of 119-5. Ellen Goldberg also had a great throw, 113-8, which was good enough for fourth. In the long jump, Kayla Wong won with a leap of 16-10.5. Wong also placed 3rd in the 100m hurdles, running 15.24 in the finals (15.16 in the trials).
In the shot put, Megan Gentile had a huge throw of 36-1.25 to place second. In the high jump, Emily Hutchinson cleared 5-3 to place third. Steph Brown was third in the pole vault (8-0).
In the 400, sophomore Meghan Bellerose (60.02) and Madison Nadeau (60.75) finished 7th and 10th, respectively. In the 1 Mile, freshman Evie Heffernan ran a personal best 5:14.04 to finish 5th, only two seconds behind the winner. Sister Maggie finished 8th in what I believe is also a personal best 5:19.84. In the 2 Mile, Devika Banerjee placed 8th in 12:20.79, with Liz Rudie at 12:44.22.
In the 400m hurdles, Amy Ren placed 10th in 1:09.32.
North's 4x100 team of Wynn, Forbes, Brown, and Wong placed 3rd in 50.72. Their 4x800 team finished 5th in 9:58.60.
2011 MSTCA Boys and Girls Results
May 09, 2011
College Results: Karys Wins 10000m at Heps
Ivy League Championships
Cornell sophomore Kelsey Karys (NSHS '09) won the 10000m at the Ivy League Championships (Heps) by nearly 20 seconds over the weekend, running 34:19.99. Karys also finished 6th in the 3000 (9:53.37).
Josh Seeherman poses the question:
"When is the last time a Newton North or Newton South runner won a Heps title? We know the first; Milton Green (NHS '31) won the long jump and high hurdles at the inaugural Heps championship in 1935. M. Carl Shine (NHS '55) won the shotput in 1958-1959 . . . . Mark Young (NSHS '64) won the 400 in 1968-1969, but is that it?"
Princeton senior and former Xaverian runner Mark Amirault continued his incredible spring, winning the 1500m and 5000m. Cornell sophomore Nick Wade (North Attleboro '09) won the 800m in 1:50.15.
Yale senior David Smith (NNHS '07) finished 9th in the shot put with a best throw of 15.28m (50-01.75), and 12th in the discus (38.37m, 125-11).
Cornell sophomore Kelsey Karys (NSHS '09) won the 10000m at the Ivy League Championships (Heps) by nearly 20 seconds over the weekend, running 34:19.99. Karys also finished 6th in the 3000 (9:53.37).
Josh Seeherman poses the question:
"When is the last time a Newton North or Newton South runner won a Heps title? We know the first; Milton Green (NHS '31) won the long jump and high hurdles at the inaugural Heps championship in 1935. M. Carl Shine (NHS '55) won the shotput in 1958-1959 . . . . Mark Young (NSHS '64) won the 400 in 1968-1969, but is that it?"
Princeton senior and former Xaverian runner Mark Amirault continued his incredible spring, winning the 1500m and 5000m. Cornell sophomore Nick Wade (North Attleboro '09) won the 800m in 1:50.15.
Yale senior David Smith (NNHS '07) finished 9th in the shot put with a best throw of 15.28m (50-01.75), and 12th in the discus (38.37m, 125-11).
May 06, 2011
3rd Annual Adrian Martinez Classic
June 17, 2011
On Friday evening, June 17, beginning at 5 p.m. Concord-Carlisle H.S. hosts the third annual Adrian Martinez Classic, a festival of one-mile races on Concord's Emerson track. There are races for all ages and all abilities, including a race for mile novices, and the highly competitive ADRO MILE, which offers cash prizes for top 5 finishers in the men's and women's division. There is a bonus of $1,000 for the first man who runs sub-4:00 and the first woman who runs sub-4:30.
Schedule of Events:
5:00 PM: Age Group Races from 10-under up to 18
Scholastic Challenge, three runners from same town
6:05 PM: FIRST-TIMER’S MILE
6:20 PM: Masters and Seniors Races
6:40 PM: OPEN Races
7:00 PM: The Adro Elite Miles
The scholastic challenge is a team category for high school students (team members must be from the same town and must be attending high school or just graduated).
For entry info and directions, see the event website:
http://www.martinezclassic.com
Letter from Race Director and CCHS Head Coach Steve Lane:
Dear Coaches,
I am writing to invite you and your athletes to the 3rd Annual
Adrian Martinez Classic on Friday, June 17th in Concord, MA. The
goal of the event is to bring together the whole running community
for one evening of mile races. For elites, we wish to spread some
prize money around, offer up another chance to race a fast time,
and have the race serve as a late-season qualifying chance for
USATFs. For runners with more modest goals, we offer the chance to
race a track mile, then watch the elites in the same event – an
opportunity not often available.
Hope to see you there!!
Thanks,
Steve Lane
Race Director, The Adrian Martinez Classic
www.martinezclassic.com
617-306-4650
May 04, 2011
WHS Track Coach Tom Davis Dismissed
Tom Davis (NNHS '04), the second-year track coach at Westwood High School, was summarily dismissed from his position last Friday, after the WHS Athletic Director confronted a member of the track team for running without a shirt.
Wicked Local has the story here:
Davis Fired as WHS Track Coach
There is a thread on Letsrun with additional information:
Letsrun's Tom Davis Fired from Westwood High
Tom's attempts to engage the administration in a discussion to resolve the shirtless issue prior to the incident that led to his dismissal were unsuccessful. It's hard to understand the thought-process behind the actions taken by the school.
According to the WickedLocal article, Westwood athletes and their parents have requested a meeting with the administration but have so far been rebuffed.
While I would ask everyone to keep Tom in mind, as always, it will be the athletes who will be hurt most by this action.
Wicked Local has the story here:
Davis Fired as WHS Track Coach
There is a thread on Letsrun with additional information:
Letsrun's Tom Davis Fired from Westwood High
Tom's attempts to engage the administration in a discussion to resolve the shirtless issue prior to the incident that led to his dismissal were unsuccessful. It's hard to understand the thought-process behind the actions taken by the school.
According to the WickedLocal article, Westwood athletes and their parents have requested a meeting with the administration but have so far been rebuffed.
While I would ask everyone to keep Tom in mind, as always, it will be the athletes who will be hurt most by this action.
May 02, 2011
Newton North Teams Sweep D1 State Relays
To no one's surprise, The Newton North Girls won the D1 State Relays title yesterday, earning their second straight victory and fifth in the last eight years.
To almost everyone's surprise, the Newton North boys joined them as champions, winning their first title since 2005.
The girls won with their characteristic depth, scoring 37 points in the running events and 36 points in the field events. On the track, the Tigers dominated the sprint medley (4:14.50) and shuttle hurdles (1:05.51), winning by over five seconds in the former and two seconds in the latter. The Tigers also won a close race in the 4x400 over Andover, setting a meet of 3:59.61. For good measure, the team picked up a 4th-place finish in the distance medley, a 5th in the 4x1600, and a 6th in the 4x200.
In the field events, North won the triple jump and long jumps by an average of a foot per jumper. They also won the discus, which, with a 3rd in the Javelin, clinched the meet. I've always maintained that this Newton North team can win even when things don't go perfectly. On Sunday, North surely hoped for plenty of points in the high jump, but recorded a "NH" instead. In the end, it didn't matter as the Tigers had points from so many other sources.
For the boys, highlights of the running events included a razor-thin victory in the sprint medley (3:34.78, just 0.02 ahead of Andover), a 3rd in the 4x1600 (18:15.07), and a 5th in the distance medley (10:58.02).
It was unexpected points in the field events, however, that put North over the top. Mike Bower's throwers took home a first-place in the shot put (Swardic Mayanja had the best throw of the competition with a toss of 54-4), and second in the discus. The boys scored a surprise second in the high jump, and a third in the triple. The team's 50 points was 11 better than New Bedford and St. John's Prep.
It was also a great comeback for a team that finished 9th in 2010 and only 21st in 2009.
Boston Herald coverage
Great highlight photos
Full Results - D1 State Relays May 1, 2011
May 01, 2011
Former Xaverian Star Mark Amirault Anchors Princeton's 4x1 Mile Victory at Penn Relays
Princeton senior Mark Amirault, a former Mass track and cross-country champion at Xaverian Brothers H.S., ran a 4:02.8 anchor leg to give Princeton its first victory in the 4x1 Mile at the Penn Relays. It was also the first Ivy League win in the event since 1931.
Amirault, who has been tearing up the track this spring, began the final leg trailing Indiana's Ben Hubers and Arkansas's Duncan Phillips. Phillips led the charge to catch the leader, and Amirault followed, putting himself in perfect position to kick by Phillips in the home stretch.
Thanks to Josh Seeherman for the tip!
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